Ranaudo shines as PawSox' losing streak comes to end

PAWTUCKET -- For a pitcher who looked shaky to start the season, Anthony Ranaudo has looked like one of the best pitchers in the International League of late.

Mark Daniels Journal Sports Writer MarkDanielsPJ

PAWTUCKET -- For a pitcher who looked shaky to start the season, Anthony Ranaudo has looked like one of the best pitchers in the International League of late.

Monday night was no exception.

The 6-foot-7 righty shut out the Gwinnett Braves in the PawSox’ 3-2 win at McCoy Stadium. Ranaudo went 6.2 innings, giving up four hits, zero runs, four walks and striking out four.

In his past three outings (19.1 innings), Ranaudo has given up one run and has turned things around following a rough start to 2014. After giving up 14 runs in his first three starts of the season, he has given up just 10 over the past eight starts.

And on Monday night, he was at it again.

The 2010 first-round pick, walked three in the first three innings, but settled down after that. Following a fifth inning - which saw Mike McCoy drive in the first run of game and Ryan Roberts send him home with a two-run homer – Pawtucket’s 3-0 lead looked insurmountable with Ranaudo on the hill.

“I just feel like I’m throwing the ball well,” Ranaudo said. “I’m still trying to be aggressive. Although I’m still walking people I think it’s allowing me to throw my breaking ball a little harder and I’ve been able to have better command of it… Keeping those guys off balance is something I was trying to do.”

Ranaudo retired two batters in the seven but left with runners on the corners. Rich Hill came in on relief and retired Jose Constanza to end the inning.Hill allowed two runs in the ninth, but finished the game to earn his first save.